Friday thrifting goodies

Let me start off by saying that I read all these blogs and see all these other people's fun vintage finds and I swoon over them without realizing I have pretty good luck myself most of the time.  So, I think that I will document my finds from now on - if anything just to remind myself that I can find cool vintage stuff too. :)  Today was a little more difficult because I had the 2 kiddos with me, but I have to say bribery works every time! :)  They love 99 cent treasures and Starbucks chocolate milk! :)  The chocolate milk buys me about 10 extra minutes in each store if I promise it's the next place we go.  Anyways...I found some cool stuff and some of it is already listed in my Etsy shop.  Here's a glimpse of my goodies.  I think my favorite was the zippered pillow case covers (i love the retro floral pattern) and the yellow Tupperware alphabet lunch box.  I wish I had a whole warehouse to store this stuff!  It's just too fun...nevermind the people watching you can do while thrifting!  Have a great weekend wherever you are!

SALT GLITTER

We made salt glitter today!  So fun!!  Ok...here's the ingredients...are you ready???  It's really tricky (NOT...wait do people still say that??...hmmm...I'm totally dating myself right now)...anyways...here goes:

SALT (any kind..kosher or regular..plain..or iodized) :)
FOOD COLORING

That's it!!  Take 1/4 cup salt or adjust to however much you want and add a few drops of food coloring (at least 4 drops if it's 1/4 cup or more of salt).  Stir it up and put it on a plate to spread it out in a thinner layer and then pop it in the microwave for 1 minute.  Put a cup of water in the microwave with it to protect your microwave...not sure why, but my recipe said that so I'm repeating it here. :)  Then you can put it in empty spice containers or condiment shakers (which I found at the 99 cent store for 99 cents..duh!).  Then have your little ones go outside if you can't take a huge mess like me. :)  Give 'em some glue sticks and paper and have them sprinkle the salt glitter to their hearts content!  Make some pretty designs!

A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY

We had an amazing event in our living room tonight!  It was a live banjo concert from one of our dearest friends and our children didn't wait long to get in on the festivities!  I rarely show pics from our house because in the past I've been too embarrassed of how little our house might look and how bad I am at decorating, and what horrible picture taking skills I have (yes, I had to use a flash on the 2nd picture...it was too dark without it and I had to capture the moment), but forget it!  Due in large part to Beth Moore and her new book (yes, I attended the simulcast), I've been living my life much differently!  I have a home and we have lovely friends and I adore my children, so I'm gonna share more from my home. :)  An older couple that befriended us when we first moved to San Diego and have been mentors to us for over 5 years now came over for dinner.  First of all let me say that they didn't just come over for dinner...they brought all the food with them!!  It doesn't get much better than that!!  They really are like surrogate grandparents for my kids since my parents and my husband's parents live so far away.  Anyways, the man is a born musician...can literally pick up any instrument and not only play it, but play it extremely well and play anything by ear!!  I can play some instruments but only with music and because of many years of lessons.  Anyways...this past week someone gifted him with a banjo and although he claims he hadn't played one since college, it was like we had just entered backstage to a live banjo concert when he opened up the case tonight and started to play.  My daughter ran to her room to get her ukulele (more for decoration than it can really be played) and my son grabbed his plastic drum!  It was beautiful music in my living room and I do not believe there is anyone who can hear a banjo without smiling.  My heart sang for joy to listen and watch the live entertainment.  We are so blessed!  I'm so thankful to God tonight for amazing friends, yummy food, my children, and banjos!  :)  (Oh yes...and if anyone wants to know who made that bright and cheery dress my daughter is wearing...it's this girl!  Isn't she talented?!?!)

A TOTALLY RANDOM POST

This is Toby, my son.  He is 2 1/2 yrs old and he is the source of much joy and much frustration (he's 2 AND he's a boy...need I say more?). :)  That being said, he's my son and I love the sound of that.  

I have a friend who told me prior to having my little boy that when she first held her boy for the first time, she said, "my son."  I often think of that as I spend time with him throughout the day.  He is so different from my daughter and so different from me, but I am constantly in awe of him.  I can't believe I was ever afraid that I wouldn't be able to love a boy as much as I do my daughter.  He is so precious to me and is constantly teaching me not to be such a worry wart - although yes, he does get hurt (A LOT), he never cries longer than a minute or two (even when he needed stitches).  I LOVE him...and just felt overwhelmed with love for him yesterday as he sat with on his car outside eating a cookie (recipe here), talking to the birds and doing boy stunts (he eventually moved to a standing position on the car (that's when I had to put the camera down and become a worry wart). :)  So...I thought I'd give my son a proper introduction...that's all. Have a lovely lovely weekend!  Don't forget to go here and put in a comment to win a free bird cage.

FREE AS A BIRD....A GIVEAWAY!

Ok...here's your chance for a birdcage for free!  Go here and check it out.  She's an amazingly talented gal who's graciously agreed to host this giveaway for me!  You can improve your chances by visiting my shop too!  The question is how bad do you want it? :)  I'm thrilled to give one of these out and I'm sure this bird will find a happy home!

YOU CAN WIN THIS...STAY TUNED!

Yep...see this little beauty....you can get her for free...just stay tuned!  Filled with aqua and red and screaming cute...she might be sitting in your house soon. :)  Hope you all had a beautiful weekend!

LAME EXCUSE

Ok...not that I think anyone is reading this, but I have been away....for way too long.  Not away in the physical sense, but in the blogging sense.  I felt that I had nobody who cared enough if I wrote or not and I was writing for people, not for me.  Well, my friend (even if I'm just saying this to myself), I am writing now for me - me, myself, and I.  Same thing goes for my Etsy shop.  I was literally depressed looking at all the cute things in other people's shops and not seeing results in my own shop.  Well, I'm sprucing it up and doing just because I want to.  I am going to give it 100% for the next 6 months and see what that does. :)  I'm also doing it out of necessity.   You see, we are not loaded.  Financially we made some HUGE mistakes along the way and now we are paying for it.  I'll spare you the details, but I am trusting God will pull us through this mess and I'm gonna do my part too...and have some fun while I'm at it....because who doesn't love Etsy and all it's amazingness!  (yes, that's a word...at least it is here).  I have been creating and buying cool vintage stuff just for my shop.  Now...all I need is a cool new avatar for my Etsy shop...how DO all of you cool people do it??  Am I just really dumb...I can't figure out how to do it and I can't afford to pay someone either...I guess I'll be doing some research on that.  :)  Now...just in case anyone is reading this, please visit me again next week for an exciting bird cage giveaway at a very cool blog - no, not my blog silly, someone else's blog of course!   Have a great weekend!